Time travelling seeds reveal that plant regeneration and growth traits are responding to climate change

Studies assessing the biological impacts of climate change typically rely
on long-term, historic data. Here, we overcame the problem of absent
historical data by using resurrected plant seeds. We collected seed and
seedling trait measurements from resurrected historic seeds and modern
seeds from the same species in the same geographic location. Our
modern/historic seed pairs for each species were selected from a range of
regions that have undergone different amounts o climate change. In regions
where climate has changed to a greater degree (across a number of climate
change variables), we found plant regeneration and growth traits to have
changed more than in regions where climate changes have been marginal.
Statistical model predictors of regeneration and growth trait changes
(except stem density) combined at least two measures of climate change,
indicating that these changes are correlated to climate change and that
compounded changes, rather than change in a single climate metric, lead to
plant regeneration and growth trait responses. Synthesis: plant trait
responses to climate change are positive news for the future of plants,
hinting at their ability to respond relatively swiftly as the climate
continues to change.